Chapter 5

If Reborn was surprised when he saw the brothers talking amicably with each other, he definitely didn't show it that much. There had always been tension and awkwardness between Tsuna and Ienari all week, and Reborn and Nana were not alien to it. Eight years has passed after all, not to mention the incident that only Reborn knew, had happened a year before the divorce, they were meant to be in that kind of situation one way or another.

When he picked up the boys at school, he saw them part with Tsuna's friends barring Hibari. He noticed a red mark on Tsuna's forehead, which alerted him immediately. But since none of his friends were worrying, he assumed that one of Tsuna's clumsy or absent-minded moments came into effect again.

Honestly, why was he turning into another Dino who always has a relapse of his clumsiness? Maybe he should start banning Dino from coming over…

But that would mean angering Nana who treats him like one of her own already like she did with Tsuna's friends. Reborn began to feel a little old. He seem to recall having two step-sons, not more than that.

When the backseat door opened, the two immediately went inside. "Tsuna, what happened to your forehead?"

Tsuna laughed sheepishly, "Hayato and Kyouya were at it again, and I got hit by a flying tonfa in the process…"

"You really should be careful about that guy, Tsuna. I don't like him…" Ienari said.

"Not calling me 'Tsuna-nii' anymore? You're harsh Ienari," Tsuna pouted, surprising Reborn when he noticed the added honorific. When he looked at Tsuna who simply smiled, he knew that it happened in-between school hours. "Well…I can't avoid him. Kyouya is already family," Tsuna reasoned. "And Mom will be upset."

Reborn smirked at the rearview mirror as he drove past the school, "More like she would be upset she lost a 'son' and you and Dino would sulk for the rest of your lives,"

"Papa!" Tsuna said with a pout.

Ienari's brow rose, "Why are you so attached to Hibari anyways?"

"Do you really want to know?" Reborn asked.

"Yes?" Ienari said, like it was pretty obvious.

"Papa! Not yet!" Tsuna pleaded. "He's not ready!"

Reborn let out a teasing smile, "Alright, I'll lay off." He retreated, "But I would like to know when you called Tsuna 'Tsuna-nii,' Ienari,"

"That was just a slip of the tongue!"

When he saw Ienari turn red, he knew that he had averted the subject of Tsuna's relation to Hibari. He figured it was time for him to resume the teasing he does on every student he handles, "Real smooth, Ienari. I thought it would take you a few more months, but three days? That's a record. Are you trying to beat Longchamp in his record of befriending an estranged acquaintance in less than thirty minutes?"

"I am not!" Ienari denied. "And besides, when is it your business what I call him?"

"Cheeky brat. Since you're already feel like talking back to me like that again, why don't we resume your daily training, hmm?" he threatened with a smirk.

"No way!" Ienari refused. "The Ninth told me this would be a training-free zone."

"And it is up to me if it will be lifted. Which I am declaring right now," Reborn declared. "By Saturday, prepare for your return to hell, Baka-Nari."

"Evil tutor!" Ienari shouted as they drove towards home.

…

Nana was sure that Ienari was quickly settling in the normalcy of their home. Well, as normal as she could see it. She had been torn when she had heard what happened to him in Italy a month ago, and was furious at her husband for allowing him to ever think of doing that to himself. She had enough horror in her life when Tsuna had been in that state, but not in the way that Ienari had done.

Parenting was something that Nana loved to do, and she reveled in it every time she sees her son and 'adopted' sons interacting in the house, whether it be in the house or outside when they have school work and when they help out at the restaurant. At least that was one quality she has that her ex-husband never had. She had been a single mother for the first three years after the divorce, and it was hard for a mother to secure a job even with the alimony Iemitsu gave her. She was going to use that to fund Tsuna's education. In the end, with Tsuna's urging, she managed to put up a small restaurant that immediately grew over the years. Even her long-time friend, Yamamoto Tsuyoshi, had supported her, as long as she doesn't get any ideas and start centering her menus on sushi.

It gave her the necessary income to send her son to a proper school and be relaxed.

Until the bullying to her son got worse.

Shaking those thoughts away, she resumed her drive back to the house after finishing up with her updated accounts and bills. She saw that her husband's car had just parked, and Ienari was giving Reborn the evil eye.

"Ara? What's the matter, Nari?" she asked as she approached the three males.

Ienari pouted as he looked at Reborn, "Reborn said I would resume my training starting Saturday,"

"Running to your mother now, Baka-Nari?" Reborn taunted.

Nana simply smiled, glad that her son was interacting with her without the awkwardness that had been evident since he arrived in Namimori. While it upset her so, she knew that he was not really himself these days. Not after what happened. But now that her husband was wearing a smirk, then that means…

She smiled brightly, "Well, if he says you're ready, then that's fine!" she said approvingly.

"Eh?" he looked back at his brother, "Tsuna! Say something!"

Tsuna raised his hands in surrender while laughing, "Don't look at me. I'm just here to laugh at you," he teased.

Reborn smiled satisfactorily, "If there are no objections, then we resume on Saturday first thing in the morning."

"You are so unfair Reborn!" Ienari said in defeat as they entered the house.

"I live to see you suffer as my student, Baka-Nari."

Yes. Her son was doing just fine. But one thing still bothers her…

…

"Dear…" Nana called out to her husband when the two teenagers were upstairs taking their bath.

Reborn looked at Nana as he dried the dishes. "What is it?"

Nana turned off the running tap, "How long will you and Nari be here?" she asked. "When you told me a week ago that you and Nari will be coming here for him to recover from what happened…I wondered how long I will have my son with me, and how long before you go back to being a freelance hitman again…"

The hitman could see the worry and longing in the eyes of his wife. It has been eight years since she last saw her youngest son, and she would do anything to spend time with Ienari as much as possible, even if she was now handling a restaurant. It sent a small smile to Reborn as he approached her and embraced her from behind, "As long as it takes, Nana," he said. "As long as Ienari is not ready to face his future, he would stay here to get all the support he needs, including me, Tsuna, and especially you," he assured.

Smiling once more, Nana leaned into his embrace. It always made her feel protected every time Reborn does that, and she loves ever bit of it. She never experienced this kind of feeling while she was married to Iemitsu. It was always something akin to puppy love. But what she felt for the man with her now, all she could tell was that she knew that the man she married would protect her and care for her along with her sons, even if they were not his own.

"Well, I suppose we have to make the best of it," Nana decided as she tore away from Reborn, "I can't wait until Ienari meets all of my adopted sons~!"

Reborn twitched at that. He had to be reminded of the brats that Nana took into her care (even the ones who has parents). "You love your sons more than me…"

Nana giggled as she looked at her sulking husband. "Aw, don't be jealous!" she turned to embrace his broad shoulders. "You're still number one in my heart after Tsu-kun and Nari,"

A smile graced the hitman's face, "You sure know how to boost my ego,"

"I thought it didn't need boosting after I told you that you were better than Iemitsu."

"Sweetheart, I'm always better than Iemitsu." Reborn replied as he leaned closer to her.

But before the two could go further, Ienari walked in on them, "Hey Mom, Tsuna wanted to tell you that—WHOA!" he exclaimed as his hands covered his eyes and turned back. "I DID NOT NEED TO SEE THAT!"

Reborn and Nana sprang away from each other, the woman turning red, and the hitman wearing a scowl. Just one of the disadvantages of having kids.

"What did you need Nari?" Nana asked, bringing herself back together.

"No, no, don't mind me! I'll just go back upstairs!" Ienari said as he stormed back up the stairs, stumbling at least once as he made a beeline to Tsuna's room.

Reborn heaved a frustrated sigh. With the mood gone, time with his wife was ruined. He'll give the kid hell come Saturday.

…

Tsuna was freshly out of the bath when Ienari slammed the door open, looking like he's seen a ghost. "Ienari? Did you tell Mom?"

"I didn't manage to! Mom and Reborn were all affectionate, and it brought me to a state of shock and mental scarring!" Ienari complained.

That made the older teen laugh, "Well it has been a month since Papa had last been home,"

"And you knew that was going to happen?"

"Fifty-fifty," his brother admitted.

"You are the meanest brother ever," Ienari said bluntly.

Tsuna laughed, "Don't take it too personally. I've had my share of walking in on them once in a while." He shared.

"And exposing me to such a thing means…?"

"Sharing the burden I have to go through with seeing my parents all affectionate," Tsuna said as he patted a space on his bed motioning for Ienari to sit on the bed. "Now, I did tell you earlier this week that I would ask you how you've been coping with all of this," he said.

Ienari nodded. "Yeah…I remember…"

"So…?" Tsuna urged him to continue.

"Well, seeing Reborn in something other than a suit and fedora is one thing," he joked, "But being in a homey environment after eight years is really refreshing…"

"And the school?" Tsuna pried.

Ienari sighed, "My classmates won't stop telling me about you telling stories about the two of us," when Tsuna smiled sheepishly, he asked, "Care to explain?"

"Haha…they told you? Well, I pretty much tell them of my childhood during afternoon sessions when they're all so tight-lipped about sharing things about them. Other than that, I didn't expect them to think fondly of you that fast," he confessed. "Most of them are tight-lipped about what brought them here, and I had to share something good in order for them to open up to me,"

"Even me," Ienari said instantly. He immediately slapped his hand on his mouth the moment that flowed out in the blue. His eyes widened and looked at Tsuna who was now looking a bit worried.

"Even you, Ienari," Tsuna admitted. "But on your case, you have no recollection on why it sent you over the edge, and I'm pretty worried. Some of the other students have the same trauma as yours, and when they come back, they do it with a vengeance,"

At that moment, the mood turned a little down. Ienari never really did recall why he forgot the specific reason why he had attempted to cut himself, but he knew that it was not pretty. He was just not ready to open up a possibility to Tsuna just yet. He doesn't think he would understand. "I…I don't really know why, but…can I…not say anything about this right now?"

Tsuna nodded in approval. "Of course. I'm not prying about your internal conflict, but remember this, Ienari, I'm always here to listen to everything," he promised.

Somehow, Ienari felt reassured about his brother's promise. "Thanks, Tsuna,"

"No problem." The brunette smiled back. "Now, you can get back to your room. I'll tell Mom about my schedule for tomorrow myself." He said as the two of them got out of Tsuna's bedroom. When Tsuna was sure that Ienari was back in his bedroom after a goodnight bid, his face turned from happy into worried as he stared at Ienari's door.

Descending down the stairs where he knows his parents were spending time with each other, he appeared at the living room where Reborn was having his nightly espresso. Nana was at the kitchen preparing things for tomorrow's breakfast, "Papa?" he called out to the hitman.

Reborn's head turned from the sofa to look at his son's eyes. One look from him was enough for him to motion Tsuna to take a seat across from him. Tsuna followed his silent instruction without question.

"How did your talk go?"

Tsuna sighed as he looked back at his father, "It's starting out well, but when the issue of his attempt came about…he seriously said to that he couldn't recall the specific reason that drove him on the edge," he informed, "Where were you when Ienari did it?"

"I went to check on Dino's progress as usual. I got the call from Ganauche telling me that Ienari was rushed to the hospital just minutes after they found him in his room. He was late for lunch, as the maids told me. When they caught the scent of blood, they immediately called in the men to open the door forcefully. Ganauche was the one who did it. They found Ienari in the bathroom with him on the bathtub with a bloody wrist and soaking in blood water," Reborn informed.

It was a bit morbid, and Reborn had no qualms in getting rid of the sugarcoating when Tsuna was concerned. He's had a fair share of seeing and imagining morbid things in rare times, which was why Tsuna was taking his words in properly without looking mortified.

"I see…" Tsuna said. "Papa, I'm worried when Ienari will start to recall bits and pieces about it…"

Reborn gazed at the worried look on Tsuna. It was never good when he looks so lost, not knowing what to do with the situation. In his time as his father, there were only small instances that he looked like that, and even more when he became a counselor. He had the sense of having to be present every time a student of the Rehabs are sent to the hospital on an emergency along with the doctor-teacher that the student is assigned to.

Standing up, he went in front of his son and ruffled his fluffy brown hair to calm him down. He gazed at the pool of worried and bewildered caramel eyes that was so like a lost puppy, Reborn had to give himself the reasoning that he had to reassure Tsuna that everything was going to be fine. "Don't stress yourself out about something that you can't help, Tsuna," he lectured. "What will happen is nothing compared to what Ienari would feel afterwards. All we could do is to be there for him when that happens. You understand me?"

When Tsuna nodded, Reborn smiled, "That's my boy." He gave him a kiss on the forehead, "Now, get some sleep. You still need to get up for your shift at the restaurant,"

"Are you going to help out in the kitchens tomorrow?"

Reborn smiled, "Assuming Hayato helps out, yes. We can even rope Baka-Nari in on helping out. He'd make a good bust boy,"

TBC

A bit of R77 moment there, but yeah, I personally think that kids are meant to destroy the 'love' mood of the parents. It's in our nature! Haha!

It feels good to be back and writing again, but if you're not looking at my modified profile, you could see that I decided to take down the revised sequel of Turning the Tables entirely and get back to the original one. My explanation is right at my profile, so those who are reading this and that fic, then look straight at my profile for the reason.

I'll be out of the house starting the second week of May, and out and about in my paternal province, so slow updates are to be expected. (this is sounding like a weather forecast)

But until then, I'll try to put up as many chapters as I can before the lack of internet gets to me, and when school starts in June.

Oh, and to those who wants a pairing in this fic, let me know in your reviews. It can pertain to any character pairing, and the one who has the most votes will be the final pairing~ most are asking for the favorite 1827, and one mentioned an 8059 in passing. Honestly, I was ready to throw in D18 and just put in a brotherly 1827, but the reviewers really do like Hibari being the protective boyfriend of our little Tuna-fish! So before I get on with it, I want to establish the pairings by the next chapter or so.